SATURDAY'S PREP BASKETBALL; Lights beat Diggers

BOYS

Class AA

Missoula Sentinel 67, Helena Capital 59

Missoula Sentinel;;19;14;17;17;-;67

Helena Capital;;18;9;13;19;-;59

MISSOULA SENTINEL: Alex Germer 37; Tony Frohlich-Fair 11; Hayden Kolb 4; Soren Syvrud 3; Kaden Sheridan 3; TJ Rausch 3; Skye Palmer 2.

HELENA CAPITAL: Tyler Tenney 19; Hayden Opitz 15; Brayden Koch 11; Malachi Syvrud 7; Nick Michelotti 5; Jacob Curry 2.

Class A

Dillon 50, Hamilton 24

Hamilton;;2;3;7;12;-;24

Dillon;;6;10;14;20;-;50

DILLON: Connor Curnow 19; Cole Truman 11; Daxon Graham 3; Callahan Hoffman 3; Jace Fitzgerald 3; Jonny Reiser 2; Iree Christiansen 2; Eli Nourse 2; Jonathan Kirkley 2; Kale Konen 2; Tyler Lagunas 1.

Frenchtown 56, Ronan 40

Ronan;;12;14;7;7;-;40

Frenchtown;;14;16;8;18;-;56

RONAN: Elijah Tonasket 11; Girma Detwiler 9; Zarec Couture 8; Leonard Burke 7; Couture Couture 3; Payton Cates 2.

FRENCHTOWN: Devin Shelton 14; Brandon FInley 13; Carson Shepard 11; Wyatt Hayes 9; Tel Arthur 5; Connor Michaud 2; Jeff Jacobs 2.

Corvallis 60, Butte Central 58

Butte Central;;9;10;22;17;-;58

Corvallis;;13;8;21;18;-;60

BUTTE CENTRAL: Dougie Peoples 31; Kyle Holter 10; Bryan Holland 8; Sestrich 6; Sehulster 3.

CORVALLIS: Tanner Jessop 27; Cole Trexler 12; Luke Wolsky 9; Bryce Mayn 7; Jacob Loran 2; Mitchell Spinetta 2; Donovan Potter 1.

Polson 58, Libby 46

Libby;;10;14;12;10;-;46

Polson;;0;0;0;0;-;58

LIBBY: Caden Williams 17; Jay Beagle 13; Cy Stevenson 11; TJ Andersen 5.

Class B

Lame Deer 68, Baker 33

Baker;;5;10;7;11;-;33

Lame Deer;;22;17;22;7;-;68

BAKER: Bryant O'Conner 8; Garret Lesh 8; Jaxon Tronstad 7; Logan Grahm 5; Guy Lesh 3.

LAME DEER: Journey Emerson 21; Davin Medicinebull 18; David Wick 7; Kendall Russell 6; Kayden Littlesun 6; Triston Lonewolf 5; Jerrel 5.

Townsend 62, Jefferson 54

Townsend;;13;16;16;17;-;62

Jefferson;;12;17;11;14;-;54

TOWNSEND: Gavin Vandenacre 22; Trey Hoveland 16; Ryan Racht 12; Devon Zeadow 7; Aaron Geisser 5.

JEFFERSON: Joe Visser 18; Trent McMaster 15; Tyler Harrington 9; Jake Genger 7; Zach Zody 3; Braden Morris 2.

Eureka 68, Troy 27

Eureka;;30;15;16;7;-;68

Troy;;8;5;8;6;-;27

EUREKA: Danny Dunn 15; Gavin Bates 12; Joey Kindel 10; Hazen Bohn 9; Colter Casazza 8; TJ Carr 7; Caleb Utter 5; Corbin Hurst 2; Carson Komac 1; Tristan Butts 1.

TROY: Michael Foote 14; Payton Fisher 9; Trevor Grant 4.

Shelby 44, Malta 40

Shelby;;10;11;14;9;-;44

Malta;;8;10;0;22;-;40

SHELBY: Logan Leck 24; Rhett Reynolds 11; Taylor Parsons 5; Trenton Emerson 2; Kolby Lohr 2.

MALTA: Pierce Mortenson 11; Darron Messerly 9; Connor Tuss 9; Rex Williamson 7; Kooper Oxarart 4.

Roundup 62, Forsyth 39

Forsyth;;9;9;12;9;-;39

Roundup;;6;21;22;13;-;62

ROUNDUP: Jace Lemmel 17; Kaide Griffith 13; Michael McHenry 12; Damarion Brewer 6; Dustin Gairrett 4; Jordan Olson 2; Wyatt Goffena 2; Braeden Bilden 2; Kylen Wolff 2; Elijah Fish 2.

Glasgow 70, Poplar 50

Glasgow;;19;6;20;25;-;70

Poplar;;16;12;9;13;-;50

Class C

Alberton-Superior 55, Plains 44 (OT)

Plains;;14;14;8;8;0;-;44

Alberton-Superior;;19;6;6;13;11;-;55

PLAINS: Parker Flock 17; Nathan Feliksa 8; Garth Parker 8; Duncan Chisholm 5; Tucker Foster 4; Jayden Weeks 2.

ALBERTON-SUPERIOR: Carson Callison 17; Aaron Waddle 15; Bryan Mask 12; Danner Haskins 7; Anthony Mueller 4.

Valley Christian 72, Darby 64

Valley Christian;;17;18;19;18;-;72

Darby;;20;12;16;16;-;64

VALLEY CHRISTIAN: Billy Boone 23; Riley Reimer 21; Eyan Becker 19; Brennan Cox 9.

DARBY: Cullen Duggan 28; Preston Smith 24; Hooper Reid 8; Jackson Hirdley 2; Will Martin 2.

Manhattan Christian 76, Gardiner 33

Gardiner;;2;13;12;6;-;33

Manhattan Christian;;26;23;15;12;-;76

GARDINER: J McDonald 10; T Rose 9; E Guengrich 6; P Roberts 4; L Guengrich 2; L Kelser 2.

MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN: Seth Amunrud 24; Willem Kimm 12; Logan Leep 11; Caidin Hill 11; Jackson Leep 9; Tebarek Hill 7; Mason Venema 2; Trevor VanDyken 0; Gavin Weiss 0; Ethan Venema 0; Devan Walhof 0.

Dodson 56, Lustre Christian 49

Dodson;;18;12;14;12;-;56

Lustre Christian;;10;8;13;18;-;49

DODSON: Zarek Jones 18; Jeramiah Benson 14; Michael Jaynes 13; Dwight Werk 6; Alex Werk 3; Julian Benson 2.

LUSTRE CHRISTIAN: Kolden Hoversland 28; Kaleb Hoversland 10; Cayden Klatt 5; Elijah Lenihan 4; Jasiah Hambria 2.

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale 55, Frazer 20

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale;;21;14;14;6;-;55

Frazer;;5;2;4;9;-;20

SACO-WHITEWATER-HINSDALE: Beau Simonson 14; Trey Johnson 12; Loden Idler 11; Jesse Lee 10; Randy Gairrett 4; Aiden Albus 2; Jon Rey Taylor 2.

FRAZER: John Hotomanie 10; Kevin Ackerman 3; Ty Fourstar 3; Jonathon Jackson 2; Joseph Bestin 2.

Philipsburg 64, Seeley-Swan 38

Seeley-Swan;;6;9;12;11;-;38

Philipsburg;;20;17;18;9;-;64

SEELEY-SWAN: Sawyer Shelmerdine 13; Ben Haley 10; Jason James 9; Oskar Murpy 4; Chase Haines 2.

PHILIPSBURG: Brian Ward 19; Andrew Tallon 18; Kade Cutler 12; Mayson Palen 8; Preston Metesh 5; Kai O'Donnell 2.

Big Sandy 52, North Star 45

Big Sandy;;6;15;6;25;-;52

North Star;;9;12;14;10;-;45

BIG SANDY: Kody Strutz 11; Lane Demontiney 9; Brayden Cline 9; Cooper Taylor 9; Kade Strutz 9; Wylee Snapp 4; Rusty Gasvoda 1.

NORTH STAR: Gavin Spicher 12; Jaden Sargent 12; Rhett Wolery 12; Ty Hansen 4; Joey Wendland 2; Payne Ditmar 2; Garrett Spicher 1.

Beach (N.D.) 54, Wibaux 52

Beach, ND;10;17;13;14;-;54

Wibaux;;6;19;16;11;-;52

WIBAUX: Colten Miske 12; Garrett Johnson 12; Birch Obrigewitch 8; Mason Peplinski 8; Kreed Eskew 7; Trey Knight 5.

Chester-Joplin-Inverness 66, Hays-Lodgepole 50

Hays-Lodgepole;;11;16;12;11;-;50

Chester-Joplin-Inverness;;12;14;20;20;-;66

HAYS-LODGEPOLE: Estevan Granados 17; Tyshawn Shambo 15; Daniel Henry 7; Brandon Castillo 5; Julius Ball 2.

CHESTER-JOPLIN-INVERNESS: Bryce Kammerzell 25; Kealy Haaland 20; Kyle Harmon 9; Braden Mattson 4; Blake Harmon 4; Bryce Ghekiere 2; Trevin Grammar 2.

GIRLS

Class AA

Billings West 47, Billings Skyview 44

Billings West;;16;14;11;6;-;47

Billings Skyview;;13;12;15;4;-;44

BILLINGS WEST: Layla Baumann 15; Kourtney Grossman 8; Bella Murphy 6; Taylee Chirrick 5; Kaitlin Grossman 4; Ryan Dolan 4; Sydney Pierce 3; Kendell Ellis 2.

BILLINGS SKYVIEW: Brooke Berry 17; Cami Harris 11; Breanna Williams 10; Jessi Henckel 3; Morning Grace Spotted Bear 3.

Shepherd 56, Huntley Project 21

Huntley Project;;10;6;2;3;-;21

Shepherd;;9;17;14;16;-;56

HUNTLEY PROJECT: Macy Rose 8; Kirra Ban 2; Brooke McClenning 2; Ashley Parker 2; Tristen Sedgwick 2; Josie Hasler 2; Kabreena Lindeen 1.

SHEPHERD: Ashley Carroll 11; Kiara Dennison 10; Cassadie Howe 9; Aubrey Allison 7; Lyndsey Kale 7; Riley Buyse 5; Abigail Beddes 3; Kaycee Kern 1; Wilhelmina Wenz 1.

Roundup 33, Forsyth 32

Forsyth;;6;8;9;9;-;32

Roundup;;11;5;10;7;-;33

FORSYTH: Lindsey Hein 14; Makenna Chandler 10; Jaeleigh Hlad 6; Austin Brewer 2.

ROUNDUP: Tia Stahl 11; Blythe Sealey 8; Cate Cota 5; Kennah Jensen 3; Meghan Eiselein 3; Makayla Goffena 2; Bella Klein 1.

Thompson Falls 75, Wallace (Idaho) 35

Wallace (ID);;6;12;15;2;-;35

Thompson Falls;;24;22;17;12;-;75

THOMPSON FALLS: Megan Baxter 20; Ellie Baxter 16; Faith Frields 10; Jody Detlaff 10; Elli Pardee 8; Riley Wilson 4; Chesney Lowe 3; Danni Van Huss 2; Cheyla Irvine 1; Caity Alexander 1.

Columbus 55, Red Lodge 38

Red Lodge;;8;6;10;14;-;38

Columbus;;9;15;20;11;-;55

RED LODGE: Alice Fouts 11; Brayli Reimer 11; Isabelle Sager 6; Brookelyn Allen 3; Emma Evenson 3; Liddia Fontaine 2; Bailey Binando 2.

COLUMBUS: Sawyer Wiggs 21; Payton West 13; Brooklyn Wyllie 12; Molly Hamilton 6; Hannah Obert 2; Reed Johnson 1.

Jefferson 56, Townsend 40

Townsend;;1;12;15;12;-;40

Jefferson;;16;14;11;15;-;56

TOWNSEND: Kadyn Braaten 12; Emma Huffman 7; Mel Woodward 7; Trinity Wilson 5; Charlotte Watson 5; Kenndy Vogl 4.

JEFFERSON: Rachel Van Blaricom 22; Cia Stuber 17; MacKenzie Layng 6; Abbie Youde 4; Sam Zody 3; Hailee Stiles 3; Izzy Morris 1.

Bigfork 56, Florence-Carlton 48

Florence-Carlton;;10;19;12;7;-;48

Bigfork;;8;17;15;16;-;56

FLORENCE-CARLTON: Kelsen Zahn 10; Trista Williams 9; Klaire Kovatch 9; Kasidy Yeoman 7; Olivia Coulter 5; Josie Lewis 3.

BIGFORK: Emma Berreth 26; Scout Nadeau 14; Madison Chappius 9; Alexis Saari 3; Audrey Buenz 2; Callie Martinz 2.

Glasgow 58, Poplar 35

Glasgow;;15;17;13;13;-;58

Poplar;;7;12;6;10;-;35

Class C

Bridger 61, Reed Point-Rapelje 34

Bridger;;19;15;14;13;-;61

Reed Point-Rapelje;;7;10;10;7;-;34

BRIDGER: Emily Adkins 31; Hope Buessing 10; Kyra Kroll 6; Dylann Pospisil 6; Mya Goltz 6; Cassidy Schwend 2.

REED POINT-RAPELJE: Lily Herzog 18; Riley Tinsley 6; Justice Bilharz 6; Loli Jarrett 4.

Plenty Coups 52, Park City 41

Park City;;11;7;9;14;-;41

Plenty Coups;;19;25;4;4;-;52

PARK CITY: Makayla Harper 13; Leigha Grabowska 8; Kendyll Story 6; Isabelle Adams 6; Addie Baker 3; Abby Hoffman 3; Halle Larsen 2.

Froid-Lake 47, Bainville 32

Froid-Lake;;14;11;16;6;-;47

Bainville;;4;8;4;16;-;32

FROID-LAKE: Dasani Nesbit 16; Sydney Dethman 12; Baylee Davidson 9; Mara Salvehold 4; Carolyne Christoffersen 4; Mea Ator 2.

BAINVILLE: Lakyn Rabbe 8; Elsie Wilson 7; Sadie Ullmer 5; Kendra Romo 5; Tally Berwick 4; Brecklyn Pippenger 1.

Manhattan Christian 66, Gardiner 26

Gardiner;;11;5;6;4;-;26

Manhattan Christian;;14;20;26;6;-;66

GARDINER: Josie Thomas 9; Ellie Reinertson 8; Alexis McDonald 6; Sophia Darr 3.

MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN: Kiersten Van Kirk 18; Eliana Kuperus 14; Hope Kenney 10; Ava Bellach 10; Katelyn Van Kirk 6; Grace Aamot 6; Taylor DeVries 2; Anna Keith 0; Alexis DeVries 0; Natalie Walhof 0; Jadyn VanDyken 0.

Roberts 44, Absarokee 31

Roberts;;12;7;15;10;-;44

Absarokee;;5;8;11;7;-;31

ROBERTS: Kenzie Pitts 20; Emma Devries 8; Hailey Croft 8; Brighid Doll 4; Grayce Payovich 2; Skyler Hess 2.

ABSAROKEE: Lexi Feddes 10; Makenzie Walton 6; Tandy Planichek 4; Maggie McDowell 4; Haley Richardson 3; Izzy Gurie 2; Avery Gates 2.

Plentywood 48, Circle 36

Plentywood;;10;12;14;12;-;48

Circle;;5;12;13;6;-;36

PLENTYWOOD: Liv Wangerin 19; Ashytn Curtiss 11; Shayla Fawcett 6; Paityn Curtiss 6; Annie Kaul 4; Emma Brensdal 2.

Westby-Grenora 53, Richey-Lambert 41

Westby-Grenora;;14;17;7;15;-;53

Richey-Lambert;;9;9;8;15;-;41

WESTBY-GRENORA: Elizabeth Field 21; Sayler Stewart 13.

RICHEY-LAMBERT: Jaylyn Klempel 13; ShaeLyn Williams 13.

West Yellowstone 53, White Sulphur Springs 35

West Yellowstone;;9;13;15;16;-;53

White Sulphur Springs;;9;7;7;12;-;35

WEST YELLOWSTONE: Emmie Collins 26; Trista Finney 19; Grace Dawkins 6; Ashlynn Roos 2.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS: Kenzie Hereim 13; Kendra Manger 12; Callie Menard 4; Brooke Thorp 3; Vickie Massee 3.

Turner 59, Chinook 52

Chinook;;10;13;10;19;-;52

Turner;;12;15;11;21;-;59

CHINOOK: Hallie Neibauer 20; Bree Swanson 10; Allison Powell 8; Britton Elliott 7; Lily Surber 3; Jade Cecrle 2; Jayden Miller 2.

TURNER: Shyan Krass 17; Brooke Reed 15; Dakota Krass 11; Emma Billmayer 10; Hannah Richman 6.

Charlo 60, Arlee 16

Arlee;;8;4;2;2;-;16

Charlo;;19;21;10;10;-;60

ARLEE: Raven Parson 5; Titanya Lapahie 4; McKaryss Fisher 3; Xaria Jacobson 2; Leiloni Butler 2.

CHARLO: Hayleigh Smith 15; Katelyn Young 11; Carlee Fryberger 9; Mila Hawk 8; Connor Fryberger 7; Kassidi Cox 6; Kyla Tomlin 2; Brooke Alder 2.

Savage 51, Brockton 19

Savage;;13;11;20;7;-;51

Brockton;;8;4;5;2;-;19

SAVAGE: Brooke Reuter 18; Teah Conradsen 9; Taryn Hagler 8; Karley McPherson 7; Alexia Papka 4; Cambry Conradsen 2; Nycole Prince 2; Raigan Smith 1.

Jordan 58, Terry 17

Terry;;8;0;5;4;-;17

Jordan;;19;20;13;6;-;58

TERRY: Hatty Eaton 4; Olivia Chaska 3; Kiera Chaska 2; Rachel Ehinger 1.

JORDAN: Abby Pierce 21; Brenna Murnion 14; Lindsay Lawrence 8; Lacey Lawrence 5; Tori Murnion 5; Brynn Ryan 3; Maggie Pluhar 2.

Seeley-Swan 62, Philipsburg 49

Philipsburg;;8;13;13;15;-;49

Seeley-Swan;;10;18;21;13;-;62

PHILIPSBURG: Reece Pitcher 15; Asha Comings 13; Rachel Ward 10; Amelia Hill 9; Gretchen Hill 2.

SEELEY-SWAN: Sariah Maughan 24; Emily Maughan 18; Klaire Kovatch 7; Bethany Hoag 6; Kyla Conley 3; Aspen Conley 2; Trista Wendel 2.

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale 69, Frazer 23

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale;;37;10;17;5;-;69

Frazer;;4;10;5;4;-;23

SACO-WHITEWATER-HINSDALE: Kora LaBrie 15; Kia Wasson 13; Teagan Erickson 12; Jaycee Erickson 11; Kaitlyn McColly 6; Paige Wasson 5; Cienna Strommen 3; Kendall Scheffelmear 2; 2.

FRAZER: Angel Nelligan 7; Justine Smoker 6; Ameri Lorenz 4; Lianna Jackson 2; Audrey Smoker 2; Angeline White 2.

North Star 70, Big Sandy 14

Big Sandy;;4;6;0;4;-;14

North Star;;35;15;12;8;-;70

BIG SANDY: Jaihven Bauman 6; Eva Wagoner 4; Mattie Gasvoda 2.

NORTH STAR: Shayla Borlaug 21; Jade Wendland 18; Laynie Sattoriva 10; Kaytlyn Domire 8; Kenidee Wolery 6; Kali Sargent 3; Kira King 2; Laramie Peterson 2.

Dodson 54, Lustre Christian 53

Lustre Christian;;12;7;12;22;-;53

Dodson;;7;19;17;11;-;54

LUSTRE CHRISTIAN: Alexa Reddig 22; Aubri Holzrichter 15; Grace Brown 9; Tiara Whitmus 4; Ashley O'Hara 3.

DODSON: Melony Fetter 24; Jean Jackson 14; Imagin Fox 7; Kataya Kill Eagle 4; Ireland Best 3; Lindsey Fetter 1; Emma Cole 1.

Park City 50, Plenty Coups 47

Park City;;17;9;12;12;-;50

Plenty Coups;;11;15;11;10;-;47

It wasn't that long ago that, Montana State University-Northern head women's basketball coach Chris Mouatt said his team needed to finish games. Well, the Skylights found themselves with a chance to do that Saturday night in the Armory Gymnasium, and it just didn't happen.

Northern, which was in search of its first Frontier Conference win, came all the way back from 13 down in the third quarter to lead Montana Tech 58-57 with :42 left, only to see the Orediggers score five quick points and pull off a 62-58 victory in the Armory Gymnasium.

"It's disappointing," Moist said. "We did a really good job of fighting back, through major foul trouble, too. So for it to get away at the end like that, it hurts. It's tough. You have to play to the end. You have to close a game out when you get the chance, and we just haven't done that yet."

The loss was a stinging one for the Skylights who have been in so many close games already this winter. But it especially hurt because of all they did to battle back.

Northern started the game hot with 3-pointers from Peyton Kehr and Allix Goldhahn, but a 8-2 Tech run to end the first period saw the Skylights trailing 21-16.

Both teams continued to play well in the second stanza, with Tiara Gilham hitting a trey, and Northern going on a 6-0 squirt to tie the game at 31-31. However, the Diggers finished with a flurry again, as Celestina Faletoi scored back-to-back baskets in the paint, sending Tech to a 37-31 halftime lead - a lead that would balloon to 42-31 early in the third, as the Orediggers outscored the Skylights 13-2 in a six-minute stretch.

"We didn't get off to the best start," Mouat said. "We missed a bunch of shots, and then at the end of the half, they (Orediggers) went on a run, and that really hurt us. So we had to play from behind. And I thought, for the most part, for much of the second half, we did a good job of that. We dug ourselves out of that hole. We kept on fighting."

As deep a hole as the Skylights were in however, Mouat was right, they didn't fold.

McKenzie Gunter made two shots in a row and Kehr hit a triple to get some omentum, though Northern still trailed 52-43 at the end of the third quarter. From there though, the Skylights really started cooking.

Kehr hit hier third trey of the night at the 5:33 marek, capping a 9-2 run and pulling the Skylights to within three. And when Allix Godhahn made two straight shots, and Kehr added a driving layup at the 1:32 mark, Northern had ripped off another 9-2 run, and finally led with a minute to go, setting up the dramatic, but heartbreaking finish, a finish that saw the Skylights out-play Tech in almost every category, as MSU-N shot 39 percent, 40 percent from deep and out-rebound the taller Orediggers 42-36.

Kehr and Tiara Gilham would also lead the Skylights with 13 points each, while Goldhahn had nine. That didn't offset the game that Faletoi had off the bench as she scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Dani Urick added 12 points, including a pair of game-clinching free throws for the Diggers.

""They (Orediggers) did good things in the post tonight," Mouat said. "They tood advantage of us down there, and we've got to learn to be better defensively.

"The bottom line is, we just didn't finish," he added. "We had the lead down the stretch, and that's where you want to be. We just shot ourselves in the foot too many times, sao we have to learn from this and we will."

Montana Tech 62, Skylights 58

Montana Tech 21 16 15 10 - 62

MSU-Northern 16 15 12 15 - 58

Momentum can be a big thing in college basketball. And the Montana State University-Northern Lights are doing their best to seize as much momentum as possible on what will end up being a five-game homestand.

Northern did just that, too, as the Lights took down the Montana Tech Orediggers 65-61 Saturday night in the Armory Gymnasium. The win was the first of back-to-back games between MSU-N and Tech, and was a crucial one as the Lights showed some grit down the stretch, according to head coach Shawn Huse.

"I am very proud of our team effort tonight," Northern head coach Shawn Huse said. "As we all know, it is no easy task getting Frontier Conference wins. Tech has a tough team and that took quite a total team effort to get that one done"

No doubt the Lights showed their toughness against a Tech team that was playing really good coming in. The Lights started strong with a 6-2 lead, and 3-pointers from Mascio McCadney, Zayare Ruffin and Allen Sims. T.J. reynolds would also splash in a first half triple as the Lights led b y as many as night points. But Tech has Sindou Diallo and he was on fire as well. He helped orchestrated an 8-0 run that pushed the Diggers into the lead and forced the Lights to make key shots in the closing minute of the half just to tie things up at 28-28.

The game stayed a battle the rest of the way, too.

McCadney hit a three seconds into the second half, b ut Diallo responded with a pair of three's of his own. McCadney answered with two more bombs though as the two squads traded leads and jabs along the way. And in crunch time, things stayed tight.

Drew Huse hit a floater in the lane to tie the game at 43-43, and it was still tied up when Aaron Collins made a big shot to give Northern a 55-53 lead. Naykel Shelton then hit a floater, and David Harris knocked in a runner of his own as the Lights went up 60-53 with four minutes to play. But the game was far from over.

On free throws by Diallo, Tech was down just 63-61 with less than a minute to go, but on their final two possession, the Lights didn't allow tech to score, and Jamel Boyd and Harris were perfect from the charity stripe as the Lights sealed an important win, their second in a row after starting 0-3 in league play.

"I was proud of our fight on defense tonight," Huse said.

Defense was the key. The Lights forced the Orediggers into 16 turnovers, and Tech made just three triples. Diallo, the league's leading scorer did score 27 points, but, Northern countered by shooting 47 percent from the field and making big free throws when needed. McCadney also had 20 points for Northern, while Boyd added 15 on a balanced scorting night.